Packing for fragile articles.



D. 1'.SHAPIR0.

PACENG 0R FVRAGILE ARTICLES. .wmcmor m50 om. 23, ms.

uvutvd 50m. 26, NUS.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Z/Wesses D. H. SHAPIRO.

PACKING FOR FRAGILE ARTlCLES.

APPLICATioN FILED ocT. 23 1915.

1,199,310, 11116D1911 sm. 26,1916.'

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITEDQsTn-rs PATENTSGFFGE/ i DAVID n. sn'nrmdlorj immensi., connue. CANADA.

Backwaren. maritim. ARTICLES'. l

Y Specification of Letters Patent. "p-*Batenied Sryt. li" 1.9i@

, Application filed October 23,1915. Serial 1o.'57,:3a.y

a' citizen of the Dominion of Canada,- and resident of Vthe cityof Montreal, in the.

Province o f Quebec and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Packing for Fragile .Arti- I cles, of which the following is a `full, Clear,

- and exact description. l

This invention relates to improvements' in means for packingeggs.

TheJ object of the inventionis to 'provide a simple and inexpensive packing for eggs which will eiectualiy preserve the eggs from breakage.

V A further Objectis to provide apacking. which may be sold ata very low cost, so thatl when soiled or damaged it may be discarded and re laced by a fresh one.

A stillvfurther object is to provide a packing which may be stored or transported when empty in very small space.

Another object 1s to vprovide 'a packing which maybe assembled very quickly and easily, and in which the eggs may be placed easily and rapidlywithoutdanger of breaka e. gIn the drawings which illustrate the inventionz--Figure 1 is a plan view of the packingin its initial form. Fig. 2 is an elevation ofsame. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the packing inserted in a container e for shipment. Fig. 4 is a side elevation ot i the packing arranged in a container to hold a plurality of layers of'eggs. Figs. 5 and 6 show slightly different arrangements of the same packing. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing an alternative method of forming the pockets. Fig. 8 is a plan view of a slightly modiied form of filling. Fig. 9 is a plan view illustrating a method of packing large containers. Fig. 10 is an elevation of the packing in knockdown form for shipment from the manufacturer to the packer.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1l designates a` strip of material such as pulp board, papier mch or other suitable material, which is pressed or otherwise formed into' a'iseriesjioffpockets" 12 suitably spaced apart by flat portions 13 of the strip.

In the form of strip shown' in- FigsJl-to 4f,

there are an leven-number of pockets "in the 4 strip, so that-fthesame may be folded .upon `itself atthe 'central'creasal to brin 1 the pockets ottone half-'finto register with: the pocketsof' the othenhalso thatgthey combine to;l form afreceptaelecapable of holding 'one half oi an egg-'pr' other article. In other words, vthe `erected 'strip forms a web having pockets symmetrically.disposed in its upper edge. It is-preferred to make the p end portions I15 of the strip somewhat longer -than the flat portion 13,1between'the pockets vat the center ,ofthe strip so that when-the 4 strip is" folded"upon'itselthe parts. 15 will I form-an endwi'seprojectingtab orweb end 16 much longer than the y.similar tab 17 formed by the foldingv ofthe central portion at l141` Thespacing of the pockets 12 and' the relationbetweenthe.partsllt and 15 is ,such that when the'strips are' erected to ,form egg containers,- the long tabs 16 of a series of the containers may be arranged alternately at the right and, left hand ends, i'

so that the pockets will be arranged' in stag'l gered relation, asolearly shown in Fig. 3. This arrangement also permits a lower layer to be arranged in staggeredrelation with an upper layer, as shown in Fig. 4, regardless of whetherv the packing strips ofthe 'upper layer are arranged parallel with the strips of the lower layer or at right angles thereto. In Figs. 5 and 6, the packing strip is formed by folding the strip of material at its longitudinal center 'in place of at the transverse center, as in the former figures. The resulting pockets are, however, exactly the same. In Fig. 5, the sheet of material, designated 1P, is formed with the pockets 12a which are doublel the size of the pockets shown in Fig. 2. These pockets are then cut transversely at 18, the cuts being in alinement with the crease 19 extending along the longitudinal center of the material. The material is folded so that the pocketed surfaces of the two halves come into contact, forming pockets exactly similar to those formed by the transversev folding of thestrip l1. In Fig. 6, the pocketsY In any or all of theforms shown, iti may' be found desirable to cutaway thematerial at the edge of the strip or web. inline with the ends of the pockets, as 'shown at 20,`so

.surface of theeggi f While certain .materialsA may be'- vst1 enough to retain proper form and vprevent,

as to prevent the material directly below the pockets coming into' Contactu with the surface on which thefstrip', stands, and trans-v mitting any shock 'or vibration to the pocket i y and eggthereinn This cutting away ot the material also provides for a limited yield--V ing or springing when subject to shock` or vibration, soy that such shock 4.or vibration is largely absorbed by thematerial and is not transmittedrdirectly to the end of an egg inthe pocket, but isdistributed through separating of thestrip, Awhich would result in openingofthe pockets, it does not follow'i' hat all materials, particularlyl of the cheaper grades, willhave this stiffness. `It

may therefore be found vdesirable to provide means for connecting the parts ont the strip..

A 'satisfactory and economical method. of

doing this is to form tongues 21 in .one half Y of the strip by means of vcuts 22 shaped as shown, and slits 23 in the other half of the` strip, through which the tongues may be inserted when the strip is folded.y 'Ihe tongues are reduced in width at their point of attachment to the strip, so that after in.

sertion through the slits v23,the side porof eggs such as 51X, twelve, or twenty-four tions 24 of the tongues may be bent out of the plane of the remainder of the tongues,

soY as to hold the same against retreat through the slits 23. It will of course be understood that if vdesired the parts may be secured together-by means of the well known wire stitches passed through apertures 25, shown in Fig. 6. It will also be understood that such special fastening means maybe omitted, or-if present in the structure, disregarded and the parts con p nected by any suitable means.

In Fig. 8, the strip is shown with the spacing of the pockets so modified that the pockets are practically touching one an other, but in other respects the strip may be similar to the form shown either in Figs. 2, 5 and 6. The former figures show what may be the maximum spacing necessary under practical conditions, while Fig. 8

the material of the web and pocketl over the f shows what is obviously the minimum spacing, but it will be understood thatthef invention is not limited to any particular Spacing of the pockets, as this is dependent in practice on several variable factors.'

The egg packing just described is designed to be used as a filler for egg contain-'- 1 ers of any size. Containers formed ofthe well known corrugated liber board, ,desig-f nated 26, are particularly applicable to this purpose, the corrugationsbeing internally the ends of the fillers may be inserted, and

by which they will be held, as clearly shown.`

But 4it will be understood that the use of this packingv is not limited to corrugated ing means to hold the ends o t the strips V may be utilized. In large containers where Y the strips are much longer than those shown in the drawings, it isppossible that there lmay be more flexibilityof the strip ina f lateral direction. than is desired. To'over- Q `come this, the strip may be made slightly wider, as indicated in dotted lines at 28,

.-Figs.' 1, 2 and 5, and this excessmaterial bentto form a. angeprojecting from the body of the strip in the same direction as the pockets 12.

One very simple method i of using the packing, which'is very desirable as a'ording additional protection for the eggs and as rendering the packing and unpacking of a large container extremely rapid and safe,

is the use ,of frames 30, shown in Fig. 9,

:which may be made' oi' any suitable material. This frame comprises sides and ends internally grooved and hinga-bly connected at the corners so as to be collapsible,y as shown in Fig. 10.` lThe ends. or sides are provided at both -upper and lower edges with hingably connected flaps 31. The packing strips are inserted in these frames which `are of a size to hold a small number eggs,V andwhen each frame is Vfilled, the flaps 81 are turned over the ends of the Y strips to hold. the strips in place, as clearly shown, thus retaining the packing strips in the frame, so that the eggs therein may be handled as a unit in packlng, unpacking orl selling. Fig. 10 sho-ws the method of packing the empty filling for transportation. A

suitable number of frames 30 are collapsed for transportation, as shown, and the filling lstrips nested one within the other, so that the entire packing for a large container holding twelve, twenty-.four or morel 80'.` lcardboard containers, as" any container havv taken `and folded at the crease line to form pockets capable of receiving one-half of each egg. The two halves of each strip are secured together, if necessary, and the holders thus formed inserted in the containers, the projecting end portions 1 6 and 17 of the web engaging in the grooves 27 of the container. Careis taken to place'the holders or packing strips' with the long ends 16 arranged alternately at opposite ends, so that the egg pockets are in staggered relation and the strips brought closer together.

When 1 than would be otherwise possible. the bottom of the container is covered by the packing strips arranged with the pocket openings up, the eggs are inserted on end in they pockets and covered by further packing strips arranged as described, except that the pocket openings are turned down to receive the upper portions of the eggs. Fun. ther layers/'of eggs may be inserted in the same manner, a separating sheet 29 being inserted between the various layers, 1f desired. This sheet may be corrugated on one or bo'th sides, andboth the bottom and top `of the box lcorrugated on the inner surface,

so that the packing strips in addition to engaging the corrugations on the sides or ends of the boX for the purpose of holding the same in position, may engage in the corrugations of the top, bottom or separating sheets 29, thus holding the strips against flexion in a lateral direction. It is obvious that'the second layer of eggs may be staggeredvwith respect to the lower layer, and also that the packing strips of the upper layer may-be arranged parallel with those ofthe lower layer or at right angles thereto. If desired, the packing frames already described, each holding a suitable number of eggs and handled as units andl each packed`as pre viously described, may case, in preference to the method justdescribed. While the packing strip has'been heretofore described as pressed, so that the strip and pocket parts are integral, it will be obvious that the pocket parts may be made separate from the strip, as shown in Fig. 7, and attached thereto by any suitable means, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It will be obvious that instead of folding the strips, shown in Fig. 5, two strips may be placed together so as to form completely closed'pockets, and inserted in the container. lilith this arrangement, the ends of the two strips will be held together by insertion in the container grooves, while the intermediate portion of the strips may be held together by` any suitable fastening means, or not at all, as may be found The spacing shown in the first figures of the drawing has been stated as substantially the maximum spacing which will ordinarilyr be used to lill the be necessary in practice, that `is tov say, the spaclng is such that upon lateral movement of one strip relative to the next, the pockets of each strip will contactwith the web portion ofthe adjacentstrip instead of with the pockets thereof, sothat the eggs or other articles in one pocket will not receive'a blow and theypockets will not strike'against one another vand endanger the contents. lt will thus bel seen that the packing is so arranged that no matter from .what source the blow is received, it is distributed by the packing over a large portion of the'egg surface, and i is never allowed toconcentrate on a small area.

Having thus describedmy invention, whatI olaim'isz* l 1. A packing for fragile articles, comprising a web, pockets vcarried by the `web arranged symmetrically on opposite'sides of the web and eXtendin therethrough,` and recesses in the edge ho .said web in alinement with the pockets. 4 y I 2. A packing for fragile articles, comprise ing a web, pockets formed symmetrically on `opposite sides of `said web and open in the upper edge of the web, recesses in theI iower vedge of the web in alinement with lthe pockets, one end'of said web extending far' ther beyond the pockets than thev other endg,

" 3. A packing for fragile articles compris# ing a web adapted to be held at its ends and to rest upon its lower edge, pockets formed in said web opening at the upper edge there- -of,' recesses in the lower edge of the web` under the pockets imparting fiexibility in a vertical vdirection to the web, and a lateral ieXion in a lateral direction.

vflange on the web holding the same against 4. In a packing for fragile articles', a strip l of ymaterial formed in two similar integral parts folded one upon the other, each part having a' plurality of pockets formed there vin opening at the top and through the side 'of the part to communicate with similar.v

pockets in the other-part, one of said parts having slits thereinv and tongues carried by the other part inserted through said slits and folded out of the plane of the slits to hold the same against retreat, and recesses formed in the edge of said strip under the pockets imparting flexibility in a vertical di` part to communicate with similar.

mamme projeeting laterally from the lower `edge off. pockets imparting e'xibility to the Webs in a i the strip under the pockets holding the strip@ .vertical direction', and flangesy on the webs against ieXionin a lateral direction.. holdingthe Same against exion between the y 6. A packing for fragile articles, compris ends in' a lateral'direction.l A A v 5 ing the combination with a container having 'f In' witness yWl'iereof, I have hereunto set 15 a grooved interior surface, of a pluralityjof f myhand, in presence of two Witnesses.`, 1.* 1 'A pocket carrying Webs arranged in'pairs to) DAVID H. SHAPIRQv -1 retain articles 1n the pockets thereof, heldl` Witnesses: 1 j

at their: edges inthe container grooves, re-4 S. R. W. ALLEN,- 10 cesses in said Websin alinement with the v G. M. MoimLA1-m\.n e g 

